On a Whim, Nelson Hughes Plays, Wins Summer Hummer

Published: Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 9:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 9:05 p.m.

Hughes, 16, was at Daytona Beach with his brother Holleman and exchange student Antonio Gomez-Milan when they started talking about playing in the Summer Hummer Super Series at Lake Cane.

They decided to play at the last minute and made the most of it.

Nelson Hughes, who hadn't been playing much lately, debated the merits of playing up an age group in a strong 32-player field with academy players from other countries.

As an unseeded player, he ended up winning the event, defeating two seeded players along the way.

Tournament director Molly Schwartz, who has known the Hughes family for 10 years or so, was gushing over Nelson's tournament play and his singles final victory, a 6-4, 6-2 win over seventh-seeded Nicholas Litsky.

"He played unbelievably well," Schwartz said. "It was touching to watch. They played such beautiful tennis."

Hughes agreed.

"I hadn't had a tournament like this in a while," he said. "I played really well in all my matches. I have not been playing that much. I didn't have anything to lose. Maybe it made me relax."

Hughes won five matches, defeating eighth-seeded Jordan Nasser along the way.

Hughes and cousin Joe Fisher teamed in doubles and reached the finals, where they met imposing opponents Zachary Bessette and William Buurma.

"They've been winning every tournament," Hughes said. "They are ridiculously big guys with big serves. We were really close. We had all these opportunities. It was a good match. I was pretty happy with it."

Hughes and Fisher fell 8-5 in the championship match.

Gomez-Milan, who hasn't been playing much in the past six months in Spain, teamed with Hughes' younger brother, Holleman, to win the boys age 14 doubles title.

The two won two matches, topping Mark Suhrer and Cole Bradley 8-0, to take the trophy.

In singles, Gomez-Milan went 1-1 in the main draw, falling to second-seeded Suhrer 6-2, 5-7 (4), in the boys age 14 division.

Holleman Hughes fell to the No. 3 seed in the second round of the boys 16s.

Fourth-seeded Gavin White of Lakeland won two matches in the boys age 18 main draw before falling to David Tossavainen 6-2, 7-5.

Hollis Named Webber Head Coach

As expected, Robert Hollis was named Webber International University men's and women's head coach.

Hollis served as Webber's assistant coach last year under coach Bill Heath.

Heath recently retired from coaching.

Hollis brings plenty of experience and knowledge to Webber.

He has been a teaching professional for more than 30 years, making his mark in administration as a United States Professional Tennis Association pro.

He is the USTA Florida section executive committee secretary.

He's earned the USTA Male Merit Award for his contribution to the amateur game.

Hollis also has earned the USTA's national award for his volunteerism in junior team tennis.

He collected the USTA/US PTA Florida Division Service Award for his leadership and vision in promoting tennis in the section and with the USPTA.

Hollis, who lives in Winter Haven, played his college tennis at Polk Community College and at Flagler when the college won its first NAIA national championship.

He is a member of the Flagler College Hall of Fame.

"I'm very excited about Bill turning the program over to me," Hollis said. "This is like a dream job. It's going to be fun."

Hollis learned a lot from Heath over the past year.

"Bill's been such a pleasure to work with. He's so well respected in the industry. It's really been a good ride."

[ Lisa Coffey can be reached at 863-401-6971 or at lisa.coffey@theledger.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ledgerlisa. ]

<p>Spontaneity becomes Lakeland's Nelson Hughes.</p><p>Hughes, 16, was at Daytona Beach with his brother Holleman and exchange student Antonio Gomez-Milan when they started talking about playing in the Summer Hummer Super Series at Lake Cane.</p><p>They decided to play at the last minute and made the most of it.</p><p>Nelson Hughes, who hadn't been playing much lately, debated the merits of playing up an age group in a strong 32-player field with academy players from other countries.</p><p>As an unseeded player, he ended up winning the event, defeating two seeded players along the way.</p><p>Tournament director Molly Schwartz, who has known the Hughes family for 10 years or so, was gushing over Nelson's tournament play and his singles final victory, a 6-4, 6-2 win over seventh-seeded Nicholas Litsky.</p><p>"He played unbelievably well," Schwartz said. "It was touching to watch. They played such beautiful tennis."</p><p>Hughes agreed.</p><p>"I hadn't had a tournament like this in a while," he said. "I played really well in all my matches. I have not been playing that much. I didn't have anything to lose. Maybe it made me relax."</p><p>Hughes won five matches, defeating eighth-seeded Jordan Nasser along the way.</p><p>Hughes and cousin Joe Fisher teamed in doubles and reached the finals, where they met imposing opponents Zachary Bessette and William Buurma.</p><p>"They've been winning every tournament," Hughes said. "They are ridiculously big guys with big serves. We were really close. We had all these opportunities. It was a good match. I was pretty happy with it."</p><p>Hughes and Fisher fell 8-5 in the championship match.</p><p>Gomez-Milan, who hasn't been playing much in the past six months in Spain, teamed with Hughes' younger brother, Holleman, to win the boys age 14 doubles title.</p><p>The two won two matches, topping Mark Suhrer and Cole Bradley 8-0, to take the trophy.</p><p>In singles, Gomez-Milan went 1-1 in the main draw, falling to second-seeded Suhrer 6-2, 5-7 (4), in the boys age 14 division.</p><p>Holleman Hughes fell to the No. 3 seed in the second round of the boys 16s.</p><p>Fourth-seeded Gavin White of Lakeland won two matches in the boys age 18 main draw before falling to David Tossavainen 6-2, 7-5.</p><p> </p><p>Hollis Named Webber Head Coach</p><p>As expected, Robert Hollis was named Webber International University men's and women's head coach.</p><p>Hollis served as Webber's assistant coach last year under coach Bill Heath.</p><p>Heath recently retired from coaching.</p><p>Hollis brings plenty of experience and knowledge to Webber.</p><p>He has been a teaching professional for more than 30 years, making his mark in administration as a United States Professional Tennis Association pro.</p><p>He is the USTA Florida section executive committee secretary.</p><p>He's earned the USTA Male Merit Award for his contribution to the amateur game.</p><p>Hollis also has earned the USTA's national award for his volunteerism in junior team tennis.</p><p>He collected the USTA/US PTA Florida Division Service Award for his leadership and vision in promoting tennis in the section and with the USPTA.</p><p>Hollis, who lives in Winter Haven, played his college tennis at Polk Community College and at Flagler when the college won its first NAIA national championship.</p><p>He is a member of the Flagler College Hall of Fame.</p><p>"I'm very excited about Bill turning the program over to me," Hollis said. "This is like a dream job. It's going to be fun."</p><p>Hollis learned a lot from Heath over the past year.</p><p>"Bill's been such a pleasure to work with. He's so well respected in the industry. It's really been a good ride."</p><p> </p><p>[ Lisa Coffey can be reached at 863-401-6971 or at lisa.coffey@theledger.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ledgerlisa. ]</p>